It's common for students to enter Drexel's College of Engineering as a "Still Deciding" student or have questions about how our Engineering majors differ from one another. Below you will find more information about each of our Engineering majors, including research and co-op opportunities, plans of study and professional clubs and societies. If you have any questions and/or are ready to declare or change your Engineering major, please contact your academic advisor.

Majors

Architectural Engineering

Drexel’s Architectural Engineering undergraduate program prepares its graduates for professional work in the design, construction, and maintenance of commercial, institutional, and industrial building systems. The goal of the program is to develop an engineer who is familiar with all aspects of safe, economic construction and can work effectively with a team of architects, engineers and contractors. Each student studies the principles of structural, mechanical, and electrical design for buildings while developing strength in one particular discipline.

The CAEE Department has an accomplished record of research. Faculty and student researchers actively pursue innovative opportunities to advance the practices of civil, architectural, and environmental engineering. Research is executed on a variety of engineering topics, such as the restoration and repair of society’s transportation infrastructure, indoor and outdoor air quality, building energy efficiency, water needs and quality, green design, sustainability in construction, recycled materials in geotechnics, biofuels, structural health monitoring, evaluating impacts of hydraulic fracturing, green infrastructure planning and modeling, and many more.

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Drexel's Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) program is a flexible and customizable degree program for high ability students seeking a broad, interdisciplinary education rooted in engineering but also extending to medicine, law, business, media arts, entrepreneurial activities, humanities, environmental studies, and many other pursuits. The world is becoming increasingly more technological, but at the same time, global, economic, political, social, and cultural trends will shape the future. The BSE empowers students to meet society's current and emerging complex, multi-disciplinary challenges. The curriculum combines a fundamental overview of engineering with other areas of emphasis, which may include studies in business, medicine, law, or even an in-depth engineering program in a cross-disciplinary field motivated by the student's interest and developed with an advisor's guidance.

Chemical Engineering

Drexel’s Chemical Engineering undergraduate program prepares its graduates to be successful in chemical engineering careers requiring strong communication, teamwork, and scientific and engineering skills. Graduates will also be able to conduct or evaluate research and development, including application of findings, and recognize their work’s global, societal and ethical impact on their surroundings. To help students reach these goals, the curriculum is structured so that they progress through sequences in the fundamental physical sciences, humanities, engineering sciences, and design.
For more information on Drexel’s Chemical and Biological Engineering programs, please visit the Chemical and Biological Engineering website.

Drexel's department of Chemical and Biological Engineering boasts a total of eleven faculty members that are currently active in departmental research. The department's research is divided into four principal areas: Polymer Science and Engineering, Multiscale Modeling and Process Systems Engineering, Energy and the Environment, and Biological Engineering. Our faculty currently has active research grants from the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Health (NIH), American Chemical Society (ACS), Pfizer, Inc., along with a host of other institutions.

Drexel's department of Chemical and Biological Engineering boasts a total of eleven faculty members that are currently active in departmental research. The department's research is divided into four principal areas: Polymer Science and Engineering, Multiscale Modeling and Process Systems Engineering, Energy and the Environment, and Biological Engineering. Our faculty currently has active research grants from the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Health (NIH), American Chemical Society (ACS), Pfizer, Inc., along with a host of other institutions.

Civil Engineering

Drexel’s Civil Engineering undergraduate program is broad and flexible, covering the entire range of civil practice from environmental to structural design, and from project management to engineering materials. There is continuing emphasis on communications skills, teamwork and understanding how to divide a project into its components, design them and integrate them into a functioning whole. Students can specialize in any of the technical branches of civil engineering including Construction Management and Engineering, Architectural and Building Systems, Structural and Materials, Geotechnical and Geosynthetic, and Environmental and Water Resources.

The CAEE Department has an accomplished record of research. Faculty and student researchers actively pursue innovative opportunities to advance the practices of civil, architectural, and environmental engineering. Research is executed on a variety of engineering topics, such as the restoration and repair of society’s transportation infrastructure, indoor and outdoor air quality, building energy efficiency, water needs and quality, green design, sustainability in construction, recycled materials in geotechnics, biofuels, structural health monitoring, evaluating impacts of hydraulic fracturing, green infrastructure planning and modeling, and many more.

Computer Engineering

The Computer Engineering major provides a broad focus on digital circuit design, computer hardware and organization, programming and computer software, algorithms, and networks. Computer engineers design smaller, faster, and more reliable computers and digital systems; embed microprocessors in larger systems (e.g. anti-lock brake systems); work in theoretical issues in computing; use object-oriented programming languages; and design large-scale software systems and computer networks. Computer engineers may work in positions that apply computers in control systems, digital signal processing, telecommunications, and power systems, and may design very large-scale integration (VLSI) integrated circuits and systems.

The computer engineering program's courses in ECE are supplemented with courses from the departments of Mathematics and Computer Science. Students gain the depth of knowledge of computer hardware and software essential for the computer engineer.

Computer engineers work for computer and microprocessor manufacturers; manufacturers of digital devices for telecommunications, peripherals, electronics, control, and robotics; software engineering; the computer network industry; and related fields. A degree in computer engineering can also serve as an excellent foundation to pursue graduate professional careers in medicine, law, business, and government. Graduates are also pursuing advanced studies in electrical and computer engineering, aerospace engineering, and mechanical engineering at such schools as MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Maryland.

Research Opportunities

Research in the Computer Engineering area focuses on the study of the design of computers and digital systems, use of microprocessors embedded in a larger system (e.g. anti-lock brake systems), theoretical issues in computing, object-oriented programming languages, design of large-scale software systems, and computer networks. Application areas include computers in control systems, digital signal processing, telecommunications, and power systems, and very large scale integration (VLSI) systems design.

Construction Management

In today’s dynamic career landscape, new areas of job growth require construction professionals to develop technical and leadership skill sets. Drexel's construction management programs work closely with business leaders to update and develop academic programs to educate students to fill positions in this growing field. With a focus on leadership, technology integration and innovative problem solving, a degree in Construction Management will provide you will the tools you need to achieve your personal and career-related goals. If you are looking for a way to move your construction, architecture, or engineering career forward or are considering an undergraduate or graduate degree but are unable to make the full commitment at this time, a certificate in Construction Management will provide an a valued credential. For more information about Drexel's Construction Management programs, please visit the Construction Management website.

Construction Management faculty are currently engaged in several research areas including: design and construction entrepreneurship, construction risk management, enhancing performance of infrastructure project delivery, construction ergonomics, and much more!

Electrical Engineering

The electrical engineering major emphasizes the fundamentals of electrical engineering, hands-on learning, and flexibility in course selection to satisfy diverse career goals. Students can choose courses from various application areas, including machine learning and data analytics; electronics and chip design; embedded and cyber-physical systems; telecommunications; digital signal processing; control, robotics, and automation; and energy and power systems.

Electrical engineers are employed in corporations, government agencies, and other organizations. In their work, these engineers are developers of electrical equipment for digital communications (such as satellite communication, fiber-optic networks, and coding and cryptography), mobile radio, radar and surveillance, process control, robotics, speech processing, aerospace circuitry, power generation and distribution, computer hardware and software, computer networks, sensor technology, counter-crime measures, electronic compatibility, consumer electronics, and related fields. Some positions held by recent graduates include: radar system R&D engineer, Johns Hopkins University physics labs; weather radar development team member, Lockheed-Martin; universal computer interface developer, Unisys; computer system manager, General Electric; biomedical engineer, Albert Einstein Hospital; power system engineer, PECO Energy; X-Y Table control design team, Kulicke and Soffa; software specialist for air traffic control, FAA; designer of lightning- resistant motors, NASA; designer of speech-recognition modules, AT&T Bell Labs. A degree in electrical engineering can also serve as an excellent foundation to pursue graduate professional careers in medicine, law, business, and government. Graduates are also pursuing advanced studies in electrical and computer engineering, aerospace engineering, and mechanical engineering at such schools as MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of California at Berkeley, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Maryland.

Research Opportunities

Research in the Computer Engineering area focuses on the study of the design of computers and digital systems, use of microprocessors embedded in a larger system (e.g. anti-lock brake systems), theoretical issues in computing, object-oriented programming languages, design of large-scale software systems, and computer networks. Application areas include computers in control systems, digital signal processing, telecommunications, and power systems, and very large scale integration (VLSI) systems design.

Engineering Technology

Engineering Technology (ET) emphasizes the practical application of theory to solve real-world problems. Although the subject areas of core courses in both engineering technology and traditional engineering are similar, engineering technology courses stress the application of engineering techniques and use extensive hands-on and laboratory work to support conceptual learning and the practical implementations of theory. Engineering Technology will prepare students for an exciting career in a variety of design, production, automation, quality, and application-related positions in the industry. Due to its application-oriented focus, the program is suited for students who learn best by seeing concepts put into practice, those who "learn by doing.” The ET graduate often serves as a bridge between R&D laboratories and the factory floor, practical applications, and commercialization. The ET program is accredited by Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc. For more information about Drexel's Engineering Technology programs, please visit the Engineering Technology website.

Environmental Engineering

Drexel’s Environmental Engineering undergraduate program builds on information from many of the sciences such as chemistry, physics, hydrology, geology, atmospheric science and several specializations of biology (ecology, microbiology, and biochemistry). This field is closely associated with other branches of engineering, especially civil and chemical engineering. The program emphasizes the skills necessary to solve problems of the urban environment. Students learn to evaluate problems and develop solutions using a multidisciplinary approach. The breadth of the environmental engineering program prepares students to follow many career paths.

The CAEE Department has an accomplished record of research. Faculty and student researchers actively pursue innovative opportunities to advance the practices of civil, architectural, and environmental engineering. Research is executed on a variety of engineering topics, such as the restoration and repair of society’s transportation infrastructure, indoor and outdoor air quality, building energy efficiency, water needs and quality, green design, sustainability in construction, recycled materials in geotechnics, biofuels, structural health monitoring, evaluating impacts of hydraulic fracturing, green infrastructure planning and modeling, and many more.

Materials Science and Engineering

Drexel's Materials Science and Engineering undergraduate program covers the basic sciences and engineering of all materials including the selection, production, properties, characterization, and use of ceramics, composites, electronic materials, metals, and polymers. Students are introduced to the cutting-edge fields of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and energy applications. A number of custom tracks allow upper level students to concentrate their technical electives in areas of specialization, including nanomaterials/nanotechnology, biomaterials, electronic and photonic materials, soft materials, and polymers.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Drexel University is home to a world-class faculty engaged in cutting-edge research in the synthesis, development, and application of advanced materials in an exciting urban environment. A core-enabling technology for all engineering disciplines, the area of materials science and engineering has a promising future.

Each tenure-track faculty member maintains his or her own research group focusing on their particular area of expertise. There are four overarching research themes prevelant in the department: Materials for Energy, Materials for Health, Extreme Environments, and Electronic Materials with focus areas in biomaterials, ceramics, composites, computation and theory, electronic materials, energy, materials processing, metals, nanomaterials, polymers, structural materials, and sustainability.

Mechanical Engineering

Drexel Mechanical Engineers cultivate essential problem-solving skills and become proficient in the art and science of the design and synthesis of mechanical components and systems. The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics (MEM) provides an innovative and flexible curriculum, offering undergraduate students the unique opportunity to specialize in the areas of manufacturing, aerospace, robotics, automotives, high-performance materials, alternative energy and green technology, with interdisciplinary applications such as working in nanotechnology or creating artificial organs that are in demand in both academia and industry. Our graduates move onto to promising engineering careers and many move on to become CEOs, professors, doctors, lawyers and more.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics is actively engaged in vibrant research initiatives to advance the science and practice of mechanical engineering. The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics at Drexel University is at the forefront in areas such as MEMs (MicroElectroMechanical Systems), plasma science, nanotechnology and manufacturing, micro/nanofluidics, bio-mechanics, bio-fluids, bio-inspired design, smart materials, combustion, fuel cells, alternative energy system, composite materials, robotics, computer integrated manufacturing, and satellite engineering.